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People booby-trapping gas pumps with HIV-infected needles

I don't know how widespread this is, but I just saw on the evening news that people are rigging gas pump handles in Miami and Orlando with HIV-infected needles, hoping someone will stick themselves as they go for the handle.



I'll bypass how badly disturbing this is and just say that I hope it's not widespread, but it might be worth a touch of caution next time you're pumping gas.

Comments

  • ViolentYViolentY Member Posts: 1,458
    After some quick google work, its evident that this is just an urban myth, started by one of those email chain letters.

    _____________________________________
    "Io rido, e rider mio non passa dentro;
    Io ardo, e l'arsion mia non par di fore."

    -Machiavelli

  • MotorheadMotorhead Member UncommonPosts: 1,193

     

    This is a pretty old hoax...   

    http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/gaspump.asp

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    image
    "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb." -- Batman

  • Really, they just reported it on the evening news here. Wonder if they were duped. It does sound like an urban myth, I just generally think that when a reputable news station reports something they've checked their sources.

  • ViolentYViolentY Member Posts: 1,458
    Almost positive they've been duped... I remember a news station in Nebraska that put out a story when someone was circulating an email about the "dangers of hydrogen dioxide." Apparently no one on that news team remembered high school chemistry.

    _____________________________________
    "Io rido, e rider mio non passa dentro;
    Io ardo, e l'arsion mia non par di fore."

    -Machiavelli

  • southafricansouthafrican Member Posts: 11

    In South Africa they do the same things in movie theaters.

  • AelfinnAelfinn Member Posts: 3,857
    Originally posted by ViolentY

    Almost positive they've been duped... I remember a news station in Nebraska that put out a story when someone was circulating an email about the "dangers of hydrogen dioxide." Apparently no one on that news team remembered high school chemistry.

    Damn, now thats an embarrasing mistake. I really wish I could say that I have a hard time believing people fell for that one, but I simply don't.

    No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
    Hemingway

  • To be honest, I'm growing so jaded and unsuprised by things lately that it barely blipped on 'fake' radar to me. It's been a week of mass murder and horror in the crime beat, just seemed to go with the flow.  I'm watching the ten o'clock news on the same channel to see if there' s a story, nothing yet.



    Maybe it was an isolated incident that they blew out of proportion.

  • ViolentYViolentY Member Posts: 1,458

    Originally posted by Aelfinn

    Originally posted by ViolentY

    Almost positive they've been duped... I remember a news station in Nebraska that put out a story when someone was circulating an email about the "dangers of hydrogen dioxide." Apparently no one on that news team remembered high school chemistry.

    Damn, now thats an embarrasing mistake. I really wish I could say that I have a hard time believing people fell for that one, but I simply don't.



    Something similar: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4534017/

    _____________________________________
    "Io rido, e rider mio non passa dentro;
    Io ardo, e l'arsion mia non par di fore."

    -Machiavelli

  • grimweepergrimweeper Member Posts: 2,047

    HIV dies on contact with air, it needs a host in order for it to live.  Doesnt it?

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  • ViolentYViolentY Member Posts: 1,458

    Well, it doesn't die on contact with air, but it doesn't take long for it to die outside of a human body.

    _____________________________________
    "Io rido, e rider mio non passa dentro;
    Io ardo, e l'arsion mia non par di fore."

    -Machiavelli

  • tunabuntunabun Member UncommonPosts: 666

    Originally posted by Sawtooth


    Really, they just reported it on the evening news here... I just generally think that when a reputable news station reports something they've checked their sources.
    FOX coverage isn't what it used to be.

    - Burying Threads Since 1979 -

  • Rikimaru_XRikimaru_X Member UncommonPosts: 11,718

    I see it reporting on our news about 2 years ago as there was a victim here in South Carolina. I don't know if it's a hoax or not, but rarely hear about anything like that.

    -In memory of Laura "Taera" Genender. Passed away on Aug/13/08-
    |
    RISING DRAGOON ~AION US ONLINE LEGION for Elyos

  • Well it doesn't die immediately, but HIV isn't the most durable virus when it's exposed. Still, a contaminated needle can remain dangerous for a decent length of time. So the medical aspect is completely possible.



    This reminds me of an old myth about crack addicts hiding under people's cars at night, and slashing their Achilles tendons when they got close to rob them. Then someone actually did it.

  • ZikielZikiel Member Posts: 1,138

    The version of that myth I heard was sex offenders breaking shins with tire irons. *shrug* Funny how those things go, what I've always found amusing is when people fail to realize that mentions of stuff like the car with the rocket booster, and the radio tower and the tools tale in Darwin Awards aren't actually real.

  • ZorvanZorvan Member CommonPosts: 8,912

    The problem is, even if it started as a myth, once it's broadcast on the news, the sickos of the world decide it's a bright thing to do. I'd advise some caution for awhile.

  • VampirVampir Member Posts: 4,239

    Originally posted by Sawtooth


    I don't know how widespread this is, but I just saw on the evening news that people are rigging gas pump handles in Miami and Orlando with HIV-infected needles, hoping someone will stick themselves as they go for the handle.



    I'll bypass how badly disturbing this is and just say that I hope it's not widespread, but it might be worth a touch of caution next time you're pumping gas.
    every single case i have ever heard of where someone deliberately spread HIV or aids through some means other then sexual intercourse has come out of florida........

    and thats no joke.

     

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    98% of the teenage population does or has tried smoking pot. If you''re one of the 2% who hasn''t, copy & paste this in your signature.

  • DekronDekron Member UncommonPosts: 7,359
    Originally posted by Zorvan


    The problem is, even if it started as a myth, once it's broadcast on the news, the sickos of the world decide it's a bright thing to do. I'd advise some caution for awhile.

    I agree. It's amazing what crazy ass ideas the media gives the crazy asses.

  • UmbroodUmbrood Member UncommonPosts: 1,809

    Putting your DNA on a lethal booby trap does not seem like a brigth idea, then again most weirdos aint brigth.

    But seeing as if you know you have Aids you have been tested, and if you have been tested then I am fairly sure your DNA is on record somewere.

    Clousseau could catch that person.. ;) 

    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Originally posted by Jerek_

    I wonder if you honestly even believe what you type, or if you live in a made up world of facts.
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  • Rreka'alRreka'al Member Posts: 450
    Originally posted by ViolentY

    Almost positive they've been duped... I remember a news station in Nebraska that put out a story when someone was circulating an email about the "dangers of hydrogen dioxide." Apparently no one on that news team remembered high school chemistry.

    Something tells me you didn't mean hydroperoxyl radical by that, but instead water, in which case it would be dihydrogen monoxide, not hydrogen dioxide (HO2) Sorry about nit-picking, just saw that.

    image

  • IbextoIbexto Member Posts: 277

    Originally posted by ViolentY

    Almost positive they've been duped... I remember a news station in Nebraska that put out a story when someone was circulating an email about the "dangers of hydrogen dioxide." Apparently no one on that news team remembered high school chemistry.
    Oh that is too funny.  But its supposed to be Dyhydrogen Monoxide (H2O) not (HO2).  :)  Anyhow, watchout it, it'll kill you in large doses.

    Cheers.

  • PraetorianiPraetoriani Member Posts: 1,147

    Originally posted by Vergeltung


     
    Originally posted by Sawtooth


    I don't know how widespread this is, but I just saw on the evening news that people are rigging gas pump handles in Miami and Orlando with HIV-infected needles, hoping someone will stick themselves as they go for the handle.



    I'll bypass how badly disturbing this is and just say that I hope it's not widespread, but it might be worth a touch of caution next time you're pumping gas.
    every single case i have ever heard of where someone deliberately spread HIV or aids through some means other then sexual intercourse has come out of florida........

     

    and thats no joke.

     

    It happened in the Netherlands too, actually. It's amazing how disturbing people can be.

     

    Also, you might want to think it's interesting to know that your signature is a myth too. False statistic created on the spot. ;)

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